A 127km stretch of road plagued by heavy logging traffic becomes part of Northland's 750km State Highway network today - which could make it easier to improve safety on the stretch.
The New Zealand Transport Agency is the new administrator of the route, which runs from Kaikohe to Marsden Pt providing access between about 50,000ha of production forest and North Port.
NZTA had said the speed limit on the mostly-80km/h and 100km/h route would remain the same for the time being despite those living there asking for change.
But the chairman of the Northland Regional Transport committee, Northland regional councillor John Bain, said councils would listen to resident concerns and advocate on their behalf to the NZTA.
The road was formerly the responsibility of Far North and Whangarei ratepayers and would be dubbed State Highway 15, comprising Te Pua, Mangakahia, Otaika Valley and Loop roads. It then met SH1 for about 20km south before linking up with the existing SH15A out to the port.